If you were at the recent conference at Mundelein, and are interested in my PowerPoint presentation, I'm happy to send it your way. I'm not certain how to upload this to my blog, so please email me at mattsond@msu.edu if you would like to have a copy of this. I recorded my talk, and will make a video format of the presentation, as well as having just the Power Point presentation as well, which anyone is free to use.
You'll notice that I haven't been very active on my blog, and that it doesn't deal directly with the topic of our recent conference, but I have written quite a bit about suffering on my blog over the years--this blog essentially was a working out of the issues of pain associated with the topic of our conference.
I have several "tags" which would apply to the topic, if you're interested in viewing the archives of my blog.
Here is a link to all of my posts which I wrote having to do with suffering.
For a link to anything concerning the book I'm writing, click on this link.
Please pray for my ex-girlfriend Meg and her salvation. She's a wonderful woman, but who has now embraced atheism, sadly, and I continually pray for her salvation. Much of the consolation from the talk about wine which I talked about this past weekend was in response to losing this woman from my life, and hoping at the time that she would become my wife. All of my posts dealing with me confronting the pain of losing her can be found here.
Thank you for coming to the conference. I will keep you all in my prayers, and covet yours. God bless you, and thanks for coming to the conference.
Showing posts with label The Book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Book. Show all posts
Monday, August 08, 2011
Thursday, June 24, 2010
An Update
It's been ages since I've updated my blog. I suppose blogging has lost a bit of its appeal, for whatever reason. Perhaps Facebook has taken its toll, but I also think that for a time, my blog was a needed outlet for a lot of rumination that apparently now takes place in other ways.
I spoke with a priest for about 45 minutes today about the talk I'm going to be giving at a Catholic conference this July. I'll be speaking about my journey "back to Rome," and then the next day, I'll be talking to a bunch of clergy from the Diocese of Chicago. Rumor has it that even Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, and the leader of the United States Conference of Bishops, will be there in attendance. This is very exciting, and humbling, all at the same time. One thing I know for sure: I'm the closest I've ever been to being in the center of God's will, and that's a darn good place to be.
I spoke with a priest for about 45 minutes today about the talk I'm going to be giving at a Catholic conference this July. I'll be speaking about my journey "back to Rome," and then the next day, I'll be talking to a bunch of clergy from the Diocese of Chicago. Rumor has it that even Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, and the leader of the United States Conference of Bishops, will be there in attendance. This is very exciting, and humbling, all at the same time. One thing I know for sure: I'm the closest I've ever been to being in the center of God's will, and that's a darn good place to be.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Shakespeare and Chastity
Here is a terrific article on Shakespeare and chastity that I read tonight at First Things that I think is worth sharing.
Monday, April 19, 2010
A Quote from St. Athenagoras
From of old it has been the custom, and not in our time only, for vice to make war on virtue.
--A Plea for the Christians, Chapter XXXI
--A Plea for the Christians, Chapter XXXI
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Speaking...
Apparently I'm going to be the opening speaker of a Catholic Conference this summer, attended by a few hundred people. Pretty exciting!
Thursday, April 08, 2010
A Great Quote...and Article
"I'm always reminded of Plato, when he speaks of man as a thoroughbred who needs a stinging fly to get him galloping across the field, so that he can realize he is a thoroughbred."
--from an interview with Barbara Nicolosi-Harrington, a Hollywood screenwriter and professor at Pepperdine University.
--from an interview with Barbara Nicolosi-Harrington, a Hollywood screenwriter and professor at Pepperdine University.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
The Speech Is Done!
I just did a dry run of my talk for Wednesday, and it clocked in at just a little over a half an hour. I'm supposed to be at around 35 minutes, so it gives me a little breathing room. There will be a ten minute or so question and answer period following. I tell you...I was planning on speaking extemporaneously, but I decided when speaking before a Bishop, I wanted to have planned exactly what I was going to say. I've probably spent about ten hours on this thing! It's good to be done. I've got a little tweaking to do tomorrow, and a little editing, but all in all, it's in the can, and that feels good.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Words
The editor today mentioned that if I were to publish a book, it should be in the neighborhood of 35,000-40,000 words. That's not very big, honestly, and I suspect I've already written around 100,000 words. I suppose pithy is good. From what I've read online, 40,000 words is about a 100 page book, and according to one source online, from a literary editor, "40,000 words is half a book."
I'm going to be sending her a portion of my writing that is most cohesive, and it's 20,000 words already, and I had envisioned that to perhaps be two chapters. She said she wouldn't expect my book to sell many copies, so perhaps that's why the word count would be so low, since it is cheaper to publish a smaller book.
It's all in God's hands anyway.
I'm going to be sending her a portion of my writing that is most cohesive, and it's 20,000 words already, and I had envisioned that to perhaps be two chapters. She said she wouldn't expect my book to sell many copies, so perhaps that's why the word count would be so low, since it is cheaper to publish a smaller book.
It's all in God's hands anyway.
I spoke with an editor today about my book, surprisingly with mixed emotions. We spoke for about 45 minutes, and it's very exciting, but at the same time, according to her, the topic of my book isn't one that really is very saleable. She emphasized something that I already new as well, that one should have a platform upon which to promote a book, and I do not have that platform at all, though speaking to the Bishop of Toledo and some of his priests is a start, I suppose.
I told the editor that I put that all in God's hands, and though I have always dreamed of writing a book, this book isn't the book I dreamed of writing. If it's going to be published, it's in God's hands, and part of me would be OK if the book isn't published. It's all in God's hands.
I told the editor that I put that all in God's hands, and though I have always dreamed of writing a book, this book isn't the book I dreamed of writing. If it's going to be published, it's in God's hands, and part of me would be OK if the book isn't published. It's all in God's hands.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
More Details on the Talk
I just learned that the Bishop of the Toledo diocese will be present for my talk, with about 25 of his priests. I'm very, very excited by this opportunity. What is even more exciting is that this past Sunday I was very discouraged by the progress of my book, and how slow going it was, how overwhelming it all seems at times. I prayed on Sunday for some sort of encouragement.
On Monday, the call came to speak about the topic of my book the following Wednesday.
I'd say that's a very powerful answer to prayer, and a big encouragement to me!
Please pray that I'll have the right words to say!
On Monday, the call came to speak about the topic of my book the following Wednesday.
I'd say that's a very powerful answer to prayer, and a big encouragement to me!
Please pray that I'll have the right words to say!
Monday, March 01, 2010
Time to Talk...apparently.
Well, I've just been asked to speak to a group of priests next Wednesday about the subject of my book. I'm excited and nervous, all at the same time, but really mainly just excited.
Please pray for me that I will have the wisdom to say what I should say, and not worry about saying too much in too little of a time. It will be about a 40 minute talk, and a 15 minute Q & A session.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Please pray for me that I will have the wisdom to say what I should say, and not worry about saying too much in too little of a time. It will be about a 40 minute talk, and a 15 minute Q & A session.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Church Fathers Under the Roof
I just ordered all 38 volumes of the Church Fathers! Though I can read them online, I want them in my hands, in hard copies. It was a great deal--64% off the normal price. These men and women were in large part what drew me back to the Catholic Church. I want their words in my house, under my roof, and in my hands. I think we'll become best of friends. And, they'll be used for the Book...which makes them deductible too!
Book Stuff
This thing is overwhelming. I think about it all the time, and I continue to read and write, but it's gotten to the point that I've collected so many things from my reading that I wish to somehow incorporate into the meat of the book, that I feel like I'm collecting confetti and putting together a jigsaw puzzle from the bits and pieces falling from the sky.
It's daunting to me, and it seems like very slow progress. I lost about a year of writing as well, through my own fault. I'm reminded of Moses when he broke the tablets--I lost my writing because of my rage about something completely unrelated. The sad thing is that I don't even know what I lost, but as I think back on certain things I wrote, hoping that I had printed them off, I realize that I lost a year of a lot of hard work, and what I felt to be rather good stuff.
Sigh.
Ah well, all one can do is throw oneself on the mercy of Christ. I hope that I will write what I need to write. And may God forgive me for being so rash.
It's daunting to me, and it seems like very slow progress. I lost about a year of writing as well, through my own fault. I'm reminded of Moses when he broke the tablets--I lost my writing because of my rage about something completely unrelated. The sad thing is that I don't even know what I lost, but as I think back on certain things I wrote, hoping that I had printed them off, I realize that I lost a year of a lot of hard work, and what I felt to be rather good stuff.
Sigh.
Ah well, all one can do is throw oneself on the mercy of Christ. I hope that I will write what I need to write. And may God forgive me for being so rash.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Onward and Upward
It's been a productive day. I've been writing for about five hours straight. I think that might equal about a little over a page an hour, to be honest. There's a lot of reflecting going on as I write, and a lot of research of Scriptures or quotes that come to mind, but even so, I feel that I'm making good progress. It's beginning to take a more concrete shape in my mind, which is good, since I feel an urgency to finish this book. I still haven't heard from the editor, but as my priest friend said, I'm sure I'll hear from her "in the fullness of time."
I've decided to pray a few prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas each time I sit down to write:
Prayer Before Study or Reading
Grant to me, O merciful God, that I might ardently love, prudently ponder, rightly acknowledge, and perfectly fulfill all that is pleasing to you, for the praise and glory of your Name.
Prayer Before Lecturing, Writing or Preaching
Ineffable Creator, from the treasure house of your Wisdom you have created the three Angelic Hierarchies. In marvelous order you established them above the Empyrean Heaven, and splendidly arranged all the parts of creation.
I ask you, true Fountain of Light and Wisdom, the only creator of all things, to mercifully pour forth into my shadowed understanding the radiance of your love, that it might purge the twofold darkness of sin and ignorance into which I was born.
You, who have given voice to the tongues of infants, instruct my tongue also, and pour forth the grace of your blessing onto my lips.
Grant me prompt understanding, sure memory, direct and easy comprehension, insightful interpretation, and graciousness in speaking.
Launch, O Jesus, my beginning, guide my progress, and let my end be only yourself, who are true God and true Man, living and reigning through all the ages of ages. Amen
I've decided to pray a few prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas each time I sit down to write:
Prayer Before Study or Reading
Grant to me, O merciful God, that I might ardently love, prudently ponder, rightly acknowledge, and perfectly fulfill all that is pleasing to you, for the praise and glory of your Name.
Prayer Before Lecturing, Writing or Preaching
Ineffable Creator, from the treasure house of your Wisdom you have created the three Angelic Hierarchies. In marvelous order you established them above the Empyrean Heaven, and splendidly arranged all the parts of creation.
I ask you, true Fountain of Light and Wisdom, the only creator of all things, to mercifully pour forth into my shadowed understanding the radiance of your love, that it might purge the twofold darkness of sin and ignorance into which I was born.
You, who have given voice to the tongues of infants, instruct my tongue also, and pour forth the grace of your blessing onto my lips.
Grant me prompt understanding, sure memory, direct and easy comprehension, insightful interpretation, and graciousness in speaking.
Launch, O Jesus, my beginning, guide my progress, and let my end be only yourself, who are true God and true Man, living and reigning through all the ages of ages. Amen
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Update
It would seem that my long held belief that I won't have any luck on the woman front until this book is finished is once again proven. I had a remarkable time on my silent retreat this past weekend, and I mentioned my book project with one of the priests. As he heard about the project, he told me that this book was greatly needed, and that I needed to finish it.
When I arrived home Sunday night, I had an email awaiting me from the lovely Claudia, telling me that she wasn't interested in any romantic involvement with me, and that she only wanted to be friends.
On Monday, I heard from another priest whom I have been communicating with, who then gave my name to a publisher who is supposed to be calling me this week. He also wants to see this book published, and wants to encourage me in this.
I just turned off my match making service. I think it's absolutely pointless for me to even think about dating until this book is finished. I don't think God wants me dating, or married, while I'm writing the book. Which is a darn good motivation to get writing!
I'm a bit disappointed by Claudia's news. She seemed like an ideal candidate for a wife. God's will be done.
When I arrived home Sunday night, I had an email awaiting me from the lovely Claudia, telling me that she wasn't interested in any romantic involvement with me, and that she only wanted to be friends.
On Monday, I heard from another priest whom I have been communicating with, who then gave my name to a publisher who is supposed to be calling me this week. He also wants to see this book published, and wants to encourage me in this.
I just turned off my match making service. I think it's absolutely pointless for me to even think about dating until this book is finished. I don't think God wants me dating, or married, while I'm writing the book. Which is a darn good motivation to get writing!
I'm a bit disappointed by Claudia's news. She seemed like an ideal candidate for a wife. God's will be done.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Exciting News!
I'm going to speaking with an editor at a publishing company this week about my book.
God be praised!
God be praised!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Progress of another sort...
I wrote someone tonight who can help me publish this book I've been working on. I feel that with a new year, I really would like to see this project come to fruition and completion, by the will of God. We'll see how it proceeds.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Well, it happened again...
I got banned from another forum. It's not a badge of honor, certainly, but I think it reflects more on the particular forums that I'm involved with than it does about me.
I go to these forums in part because I want to find out the sorts of things I need to include in my book, to counter what I perceive as lies being foisted upon very susceptible individuals. I spoke pretty boldly about what Scripture talks about certain things, and then was challenged for doing so.
Some people felt insulted, apparently, with what I said, though what I shared reflects 2,000 years of Christian tradition. Another individual suggested that I apologize to those who felt offended by what I wrote, and I refused to do so, and quoted the following passage from John 8:
42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
If someone has become a heretic, and teaches lies, I don't believe that they belong to God, and indeed are serving the father of lies.
I got banned for a month for saying so, apparently. It's a dark corner of the web, so I'm not sure if I'll go back anyway.
I go to these forums in part because I want to find out the sorts of things I need to include in my book, to counter what I perceive as lies being foisted upon very susceptible individuals. I spoke pretty boldly about what Scripture talks about certain things, and then was challenged for doing so.
Some people felt insulted, apparently, with what I said, though what I shared reflects 2,000 years of Christian tradition. Another individual suggested that I apologize to those who felt offended by what I wrote, and I refused to do so, and quoted the following passage from John 8:
42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
If someone has become a heretic, and teaches lies, I don't believe that they belong to God, and indeed are serving the father of lies.
I got banned for a month for saying so, apparently. It's a dark corner of the web, so I'm not sure if I'll go back anyway.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A Letter
Dear __________
You wrote this below:
As to this,
My ability to "tune off" to God doesn't override his ability to get through to me one way or another.
I would have to say that because God loves us, we do have the ability to "tune off" God, despite constant attempts to communicate with us. We know that,
A) God is all powerful,
B) God is all good,
C) God continually is working to draw all men and women to Him, i.e., communicating with them,
D) A vast number of men and women neither believe in God, believe in another god/goddess, such as Hindus do, or blatantly have jettisoned Him from their lives, or choose to believe in a modified version of Christianity, such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses do.
If these men and women do not have the power within them, from their free will given them by God, to "tune off" to a God who is constantly pursuing them, either God is not as powerful as we believe Him to be, or else God does indeed give us the freedom to tune Him off, even though we believe we are listening to Him.
This speaks to our human nature, more than anything else. If we didn't have the power to "tune off" to God, then we'd be mere automatons, incapable of making any other choice than that which God dictates for us. But God loves us enough that he desires for us to choose, freely, to follow Him.
I think daily we are confronted with the challenge that Joshua gave to the Israelites, "Choose this day whom you will serve." Joshua chose to follow the God of Abraham, while others chose to "tune off" God, and followed another path.
All this to say that I don't believe that it's justifiable, both logically, nor from Scriptures to say that "God wouldn't allow us to be deceived." It would be evil of Him not to allow us to choose for ourselves. It is a good and benign and loving God who allows us to choose what we believe about Him, even if they are lies...it was love that stayed His hand in the Garden of Eden, for He wanted his children to be completely free. What gods of the Old Testament would have ever allowed this? That we have a choice in the matter points to His goodness!
You address this in a particularly poignant portion of your most recent reply:
God doesn't mislead and if we're truly searching with all we have, it would be evil to allow us to be deceived if we are trying so hard to hear from him. That isn't God's characte
You are so right: God cannot deceive. However, how do you explain all the instances in Scripture where men and women were deceived into believing something that was a lie? Clearly God didn't deceive them, and clearly, in every case, those who were deceived, (such as Adam and Eve) were seeking hard to find the truth. In the case of the Garden, they believed the lie of the Serpent that was so compelling, and believable. They were not seeking to be deceived, were they? They were seeking what they perceived as good and right, knowing the difference between good and evil. I don't think anyone in the history of the world truly ever seeks after things that they think will bring them harm, or that they think are falsehoods, particularly in religion, yet we know emphatically that men and women do choose falsely, even though they are "trying very hard" to see truth, or to do what is in their best interest.
Ultimately, what you are relying on is the ability of your heart and mind to determine what is true. Is that the most reliable source, and are your feelings of peace the best arbiter of what is true and right?
Christ was in the middle of the will of God in the Garden of Gethsemane, but from a subjective human standpoint, Christ wasn't having a "peaceful" experience, since He sweat blood! He was engaged in a great internal battle. His peace was a peace that "surpasses all understanding," because it was the peace of knowing that He was completely and fully within the will of His heavenly Father, but I don't think the human side of Him felt peace at all. To run from the Cross would have been the path of peace, from his human perspective. The "peace that surpasses all understanding" can often be a peace that the world would never call peace, because they cannot understand it! The peace of Christ is often found in a place where we are dueling with the two natures within us, just as Paul speaks about. He describes an internal battle between his flesh and spirit, in terms that speak of warfare, more than of peace, yet all Christians would say that Paul was living in the peace of Christ. Therefore, as Christians, sometimes feeling "at peace" isn't necessarily the same as experiencing the "peace of Christ." Perhaps our "feeling" of peace is a sign that we're not actually experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding.
I think Jeremiah 17:9 has much insight to give us on the reliability of our heart, and of the peace we "feel" sometimes about the decisions we make:
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
May God bless you as you continue to pursue Him!
You wrote this below:
"I know from experience that a person can't give themselves inner peace no matter how hard they try. The devil can't give it either because he doesn't have it to give....Some people think that we humans are able to ignore God even when he has been trying to speak to us. I think some people can and those are the ones who have somehow walked away from God and who don't bring their desires subject to him. I don't believe that Christians who are in constant prayerful communication with God can ignore him. I think that the God of all the universe and of every living thing has the unquestioned ability to give us a message whenever he wants. In other words, if God wanted to tell me to behave a certain way, he could do it in a million different ways and i would see it. My ability to "tune off" to God doesn't override his ability to get through to me one way or another...."
As I think about what I excerpted from above, I would say that Scripture is filled with examples where God communicated His will to Godly men and women, persistently even, and yet they chose to ignore Him. God's promises to Abraham come to mind.As to this,
My ability to "tune off" to God doesn't override his ability to get through to me one way or another.
I would have to say that because God loves us, we do have the ability to "tune off" God, despite constant attempts to communicate with us. We know that,
A) God is all powerful,
B) God is all good,
C) God continually is working to draw all men and women to Him, i.e., communicating with them,
D) A vast number of men and women neither believe in God, believe in another god/goddess, such as Hindus do, or blatantly have jettisoned Him from their lives, or choose to believe in a modified version of Christianity, such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses do.
If these men and women do not have the power within them, from their free will given them by God, to "tune off" to a God who is constantly pursuing them, either God is not as powerful as we believe Him to be, or else God does indeed give us the freedom to tune Him off, even though we believe we are listening to Him.
This speaks to our human nature, more than anything else. If we didn't have the power to "tune off" to God, then we'd be mere automatons, incapable of making any other choice than that which God dictates for us. But God loves us enough that he desires for us to choose, freely, to follow Him.
I think daily we are confronted with the challenge that Joshua gave to the Israelites, "Choose this day whom you will serve." Joshua chose to follow the God of Abraham, while others chose to "tune off" God, and followed another path.
All this to say that I don't believe that it's justifiable, both logically, nor from Scriptures to say that "God wouldn't allow us to be deceived." It would be evil of Him not to allow us to choose for ourselves. It is a good and benign and loving God who allows us to choose what we believe about Him, even if they are lies...it was love that stayed His hand in the Garden of Eden, for He wanted his children to be completely free. What gods of the Old Testament would have ever allowed this? That we have a choice in the matter points to His goodness!
You address this in a particularly poignant portion of your most recent reply:
God doesn't mislead and if we're truly searching with all we have, it would be evil to allow us to be deceived if we are trying so hard to hear from him. That isn't God's characte
Ultimately, what you are relying on is the ability of your heart and mind to determine what is true. Is that the most reliable source, and are your feelings of peace the best arbiter of what is true and right?
Christ was in the middle of the will of God in the Garden of Gethsemane, but from a subjective human standpoint, Christ wasn't having a "peaceful" experience, since He sweat blood! He was engaged in a great internal battle. His peace was a peace that "surpasses all understanding," because it was the peace of knowing that He was completely and fully within the will of His heavenly Father, but I don't think the human side of Him felt peace at all. To run from the Cross would have been the path of peace, from his human perspective. The "peace that surpasses all understanding" can often be a peace that the world would never call peace, because they cannot understand it! The peace of Christ is often found in a place where we are dueling with the two natures within us, just as Paul speaks about. He describes an internal battle between his flesh and spirit, in terms that speak of warfare, more than of peace, yet all Christians would say that Paul was living in the peace of Christ. Therefore, as Christians, sometimes feeling "at peace" isn't necessarily the same as experiencing the "peace of Christ." Perhaps our "feeling" of peace is a sign that we're not actually experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding.
I think Jeremiah 17:9 has much insight to give us on the reliability of our heart, and of the peace we "feel" sometimes about the decisions we make:
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
In light of the stories of Scripture, and of your knowledge of human nature, I urge to consider the reliability of the human heart to tell us what is true, if that is the basis upon which you are choosing to live your life. I know I can't trust myself very well to tell me the truth about the way to live my life!May God bless you as you continue to pursue Him!
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